EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY

While India is making strides in renewable energy, challenges such as high costs, greenwashing and the need for innovative solutions such as water credits reiterate the urgency for a more wholesome approach to address sustainability setbacks

-  Navneet Singh

The most recent sustainable development report from the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network shows a troubling metric for India. The country ranks 109 with a score of 64.0 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India is facing a climate crisis marked by disasters such as the Wayanad landslide, claiming 200 lives, and the Joshimath land subsidence, displacing many. Extreme heat gripped the nation, with temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius in some regions. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality plummeted, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 500 due to local emissions and stubble burning.

A 2024 HeatWatch report revealed over 700 heat-related deaths this year and over $56 billion in damages from weather-related disasters in India between 2019 and 2023. Without urgent climate action, 45 million people could be displaced by 2050 due to slow-onset impacts, warned the Climate Action Network, South Asia.

To deal with the escalating climate crisis, the Paris Agreement seeks to limit warming to 1.5°C, requiring emissions to peak by 2025 and decrease by 43 per cent by 2030.

These pressing challenges highlight the urgent need for decisive action to combat climate change and safeguard vulnerable communities. They also demand a more collective and comprehensive approach for a sustainable future.

The silver lining is that India is taking several steps to combat these issues.

Robust Initiatives

The government has undertaken several initiatives to promote renewable energy (RE), particularly solar and wind power. These measures encourage industries to shift from conventional coal-thermal energy sources to more sustainable options. As of 30 June 2024, the country boasts an installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity of 85.47 gigawatts (GW) and a wind power capacity of 46.65 GW.